Health News
Medicare Changes 2026: How Trump Policies Impact Illinois Beneficiaries
Explore key Medicare changes coming in 2026 under new Trump administration policies. From drug price negotiations to prescription cost caps, learn how these updates impact beneficiaries and how to navigate your coverage effectively.
Health Insurance in 2026: Higher Costs, New Rules, and How to Stay Covered
For many Illinois families, the last few years have been a rollercoaster of coverage options, premium shifts, and political whiplash. In the wake of the pandemic, expanded ACA subsidies, Medicaid protections, and easier enrollment rules made health insurance feel, for once, more accessible and affordable. But as 2025 came to a close, that stability began to shake.
How the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Could Change Illinois Health Insurance
In mid-2025, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—a sweeping reconciliation package that, while extending some tax cuts, also tightens eligibility for key health programs. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it could result in 10.9 million additional uninsured Americans—including many in Illinois—by introducing stricter work requirements, rolling back marketplace subsidies, and altering Medicaid and CHIP funding.
Illinois 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Expands Health Insurance Access
Illinois' 2025 ACA open enrollment period is now live, offering expanded subsidies, more insurance carriers, and stronger consumer protections through Get Covered Illinois. From freelancers to recently unemployed residents, thousands in Chicagoland can now access quality, affordable health coverage.
Illinois Medicaid Cuts Threaten Healthcare Access in 2025
Illinois' 2025 Medicaid funding cuts threaten healthcare access for low-income residents across the state, especially in Chicagoland. Nonprofits and clinics warn of reduced services, longer wait times, and fewer care options as the state scales back support for providers and enrollment programs.
New Illinois Health Insurance Laws in 2025 Expand Coverage Protections for Residents
As of January 1, 2025, Illinois has enacted major health insurance reforms, including a ban on short-term "junk" plans, mandated hearing aid coverage for all ages, and a $60 cap on EpiPen costs. These changes aim to improve coverage quality and affordability for residents, especially in Chicagoland.
Maternal Mental Health: Many States Receive Low Grades
Maternal mental health is essential for the well-being of mothers and their families. However, a recent report from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health reveals that 24 states in the U.S. received a "D" grade for their efforts in supporting maternal mental health. Let’s explains what maternal mental health is, its importance, and the key findings of the study.
Can You Overdose on Weed? Understanding the Risks and Effects
The growing popularity and legalization of marijuana have prompted many to question its safety. A common concern is whether one can overdose on weed. This article explores this question using straightforward, accessible language and provides detailed, accurate information.
Understanding Senior Citizen Age
A "senior citizen" is an older adult who has reached a specific age often linked to retirement and certain benefits. But what age is considered a senior citizen? Let's explore this in simple terms.
Health Insurance Reforms Aim to Lower Premiums
Explore how new health insurance reforms aim to lower premiums and improve access to care. Understand the changes, the impact, and expert opinions on the matter.
Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet: Navigating the Strike
Learn about the contingency plans and community impact of the upcoming nurses' strike at Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet. Discover expert insights and the hospital's strategy to maintain patient care.
Unveiling the Complex World of Drug Overdoses
Drug overdoses, an all-encompassing term for a plethora of symptoms, effects, and outcomes, paint a complex picture of today's public health landscape. Let’s explore the intricate details of drug overdoses, insights from health experts and testimonies from those affected, aiming to broaden public understanding and drive forward the conversation on effective prevention and treatment.
Native Americans are Dying Too Young
In the quiet stretches of South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation, Katherine Goodlow, a 20-year-old member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, holds Coco the puppy outside her grandmother's home—a home marked by loss far beyond its walls. By her young age, Goodlow has lost friends and family to an array of preventable tragedies—from suicide to car crashes to illness—painting a stark portrait of a deeper health crisis affecting Native Americans across the United States.
City and Country: The Growing Chasm of Mortality
In the remote corners of Arizona, where the land stretches wide and the population thins, Matthew Roach, the vital statistics manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, has charted a worrying trend that captures a broader national crisis. The mortality gap between rural and urban Americans is not just widening—it's deepening, with profound implications for communities and health systems across the nation.
In the Shadows of Progress: California's Homelessness Crisis Amid a $24 Billion Spend
Amidst the sprawling cityscapes of California, where the glint of Silicon Valley's promise contrasts sharply with the makeshift tents on city streets, a grave paradox persists. Despite the state's staggering $24 billion expenditure to combat homelessness over the past five years, California's streets remain lined with the dispossessed, revealing a critical gap in the state's approach to one of its most vexing issues. The recent state audit has shed light on this glaring oversight: California has not adequately tracked the effectiveness of its sprawling anti-homelessness efforts, raising serious questions about the accountability and efficacy of public spending in this arena.
